GB2438869A

GB2438869A - Electric fire assembly comprising a number of sub-assemblies that can be mated together

Info

Publication number: GB2438869A
Application number: GB0611362A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Betz; Muiris Flynn; Wolfram Fischer
Original assignee: Basic Holdings
Current assignee: Basic Holdings
Priority date: 2006-06-09
Filing date: 2006-06-09
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-09
Also published as: GB2438869B; GB0611362D0; RU2008152750A; EP2027416A1; CN101501402B; CN101501402A; WO2007141045A1

Abstract

An electric fire comprises a plurality of parts that can be easily assembled. The fire 100 includes a chassis 105 configured to define the back and side walls of the fire. The roof and floor of the fire are provided by upper and lower sub-assemblies 130, 131 which have been previously moulded so as to provide a housing for the electrical and moveable parts used in the operation of the fire. The sub-assemblies are mountable to and supportable by the chassis, where the sub-assemblies and the chassis combine to define the exterior of the fire. Preferably, each of the sub-assemblies is formed from a plastics material. Decorative trims may also be provided which can be attached during the assembly process.

Description

Electric Fire

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electric fires and in particular to fire that is formed from a kit of parts and can be easily assembled. The invention more particularly relates to a electric fire assembly comprising a number of sub-assemblies that can be easily mated together to form a finished product.

Background

Within the field of electric fires it is well known to provide fires of differing shapes and forms. Traditionally the electric fire was provided as a substitute for the conventional "real" fire and as such had to be dimensioned to fit into the opening provided within the fireplace. The installation of the fireplace is predominately conducted by the purchaser of the fire, i.e. not a skilled installer of such devices. Although the dimensions of fireplace opening are relatively constant, there is always the possibility that the purchased electric fire could be found on installation to be too big for the opening where it is required to be located. In these circumstances, the aesthetic effect is such that the fire can be perceived as being too large within the available space of the fireplace where it is located with the resultant effect that it stands proud of the fire. Traditionally electric fires have a depth of about 110mm, which defines the minimum depth of a fireplace within which they can be located.

Irrespective of the dimensions of the fire, heretofore the electric fire has been fabricated in the main from metal materials. The number of components required for complete manufacture an electric fire is quite large and the time required to assemble these components into a completed product can take a skilled operator up to about 80 minutes. Within this context, and with the desire to provide more and more fires at a lower price, there is a requirement to improve the manufacturing process used to fabricate such fires.

A further factor associated with the traditional electric fire, is that irrespective of the time required to assemble such units, the technology used in providing the basic components of the fire has remained static for some time.

Although developments have been made in certain areas of the fire, such as those described in our earlier British Patent, GB 2180927, the simplest of electric fires include a heating element, a light source used to illuminate an artificial fuel bed and a reflective screen that is upstanding from the fuel bed and is used to simulate flame effects.

It will therefore be appreciated that there are a number of areas which are problematic with regard to the standard electric fire. There is as a result a need to provide a fire that addresses one or more of these problems so as to provide a completed assembled fire in a cost effective manner.

Summary

Accordingly, a first embodiment of the invention provides an electric fire that is fabricated from a plurality of sub-assemblies, the sub-assemblies being mountable to a rear chassis of the fire. The combination of the sub-assemblies and the rear chassis define an interior portion of the fire; the rear chassis defining the back and side walls, and the sub-assemblies the floor and roof of the fire. By reducing the number of components that need to be fixed separately to the fire, the time required to assemble such a fire is reduced.

Accordingly the invention provides an electric fire as detailed in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims. The invention also provides a fire substantially as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

These and other features of the invention will be better understood with reference to the exemplary embodiments which follow which are provided for illustrative purposes.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a disassembled fire in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section through an assembled fire.

Figure 3 is a side view corresponding to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is front view of the fire of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top view of the fire of Figure 2.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 to 5 which are provided as illustrative of the type of fire that may be provided in accordance with the teachings of the invention but are not to be construed as limiting in any way as the scope of the invention will be determined with reference to the claims.

As shown in Figure 1 the invention provides a fire 100 fabricated from a plurality of components. Firstly, a rear plate or chassis 105 is provided. This is typically fabricated from a planar piece of metal that is folded at two points on either side. The resultant piece may then be considered as defining a rear backing 110, two side portions 115-one for the left and one for the right of the fire-and two front pieces 120. The depth of the side portions define the depth within which the fire is insertable within a fireplace and typically are of the order of 50-60mm. The chassis may be considered as defining the back and side walls of the fire. It will be understood that the dimensions of the rear backing are substantially greater than that of the side portions or front pieces. The front pieces are substantially parallel with the rear backing and the each are substantially perpendicular with the side portions.

Mountable to the rear chassis are two sub assemblies: an upper assembly 130 and a lower assembly 131. The upper assembly when mounted to the chassis defines the roof of the fire whereas the lower assembly when mounted defines the floor of the fire. Each of the upper and lower assemblies are desirably fabricated from a plastics material which may be moulded to form integral fittings for the components which are seatable or mountable to each sub assembly. Once fully fitted with the components that these assemblies are configured to house, then the assemblies are simply snap fitted to the rear chassis. Although the snap fitting may be sufficient to secure the sub-assemblies it will be appreciated that additional securing means such as screws or the like could be also used. The inter-engagement between the sub-assemblies and the chassis is desirably such that the sub-assemblies are received in the area of the chassis defined between the two side walls.

Each of the sub-assemblies may be considered as having two main components or mounting brackets. A first component provides a housing and securing features necessary to secure electrical and moveable parts, and the second component forms a cover for those mounted parts. The two components when mated together define an interior cavity within which the main portion of the electrical connections are located, and preventing accidental access to these connections thereby minimising the possibility of tampering.

The upper assembly 130 is desirably configured to house a heating element 135 which is arranged at a lower portion of a mounting bracket 136-fabricated in plastic. A grill 140 is also attachable to the mounting bracket and when the mounting bracket is coupled to its corresponding cover 155, they combine to define a conduit through which heated air may be directed downwardly through the grill and over the front of the fire. The blowing of the air is generated by a blower wheel 145 which is rotatably mounted in an upper portion of the bracket 136, the rotation of which generates a flow of air passed the heating element, thereby heating the air. The geometry of the conduit serves to direct the heated air in the desired direction. The aesthetics of the front portion of the fire are improved by provision of a hingeable hood 150, which is also coupled to the mounting bracket, and is pivotable about an upper position 151 so as to be moveable up and away from the fire to reveal control buttons 152 which serve to control the heating element and also the powered elements that are provided in the lower assembly and which will be discussed shortly. The control buttons are typically switches that are receivable in apertures 250 formed as a moulded part of the bracket. An upstanding member 255 is also fixably attached to the upper assembly and forms a seat for receiving decorative trim 190c, 200.

To fully assemble the upper sub-assembly it is necessary to mount the blower wheel and heating element in the moulded bracket 136. All other necessary electrical pieces are fixed to this bracket. The grill element is attached and the upstanding member located. The cover portion is then fixed to the bracket to complete the assembly of the upper sub-assembly.

In a similar fashion, the lower sub-assembly 131 is used to house components that heretofore had to be individually mounted to the chassis of the fire. In this instance the components are related to the generation of the flame effect and include a second blower wheel 161 which is supported on a plastic mounting bracket 163 to which a cover portion 162, also formed in plastic is connectable. The mounting bracket provides an integral moulding for receiving one more light bulbs 164 which are receivable on mounting formed on an upper surface of the bracket. Other electrical connections are provided on a lower surface of the bracket and include for example a motor for the blower and the connection for the main power cord. The cover portion is then secured to enclose all the electrical components within an interior portion of the lower sub-assembly. To ensure that it is possible to get access to these electrical connections it is desirable that the cover is removably securable to the bracket.

As part of the fire, a fuel bed 165 is also provided and may be dimensioned to receive coals, logs or some other artificial fuel element. The fuel bed is fixably attached to a front ash tray façade 220, which is desirably formed of cast iron. When fully assembled the fuel bed is located over the lights such that it is illuminated from below. By mounting the fuel bed to the ash tray façade it is possible to remove the fuel bed from occluding the lights to enable a use to change a bulb if so required. Once fully assembled this sub assembly may then be snap fitted to the rear chassis 105.

Also attachable to the rear chassis are upper and lower brackets 170, 171 which are adapted to receive and support ribbons that are located, in use, above the lower sub assembly and which are moveable under the effect of the air generated by the second blower wheel. The ribbons are desirably located in front of an at least partially reflective surface 173 which is also attached to the rear chassis and may be patterned to form flame effects. The upwelling light from the light on the lower sub assembly will also serve to partially illuminate this flame effect surface.

A second partially reflective surface 174 is located in front of the ribbon brackets and serves to both protect the ribbons from tampering and also to provide the visual effect of the flames behind the screen. The second surface is desirably partially mirrored on an interior surface and provides a diffusing effect.

The second surface is receivable on a rebate 205 formed at the intersection of the two mutually perpendicular sides 115, 120 of the chassis and is held in place by two mounting pieces 215 which overlap with the secured surface and mate with the chassis.

To assemble the fire, each of the components that are housed in the upper and lower sub-assemblies are seated in their plastics mount and secured. Left and right trim pieces 190A, 190B are then slideably engaged with the front surface 120 of the chassis. The flame effect screen and the mounting for the ribbon is then attached to the rear surface 110. The front reflective screen 174 is then secured using its mounting brackets. The upper and lower sub assemblies are then fitted to the rear chassis. This may be by means of a snap fit arrangement. This co-operation between the sub assemblies and the rear chassis plate serves to define the rear, upper and lower surfaces of the fire. The ash tray façade and its associated fuel bed are then slideably presented to the completed fire.

It will be appreciated that the rear chassis simply provides a backing and side plates for the assembled fire and that the upper and lower surfaces of the fire are provided by the sub-assemblies. Each of the sub-assemblies, in addition to defining the enclosure within the fire also provide a support for the electrical and moveable components of the fire.

It will be understood that preferred embodiments of an electric fire have been described. Within the context of the invention, the fire includes a chassis configured to define the rear and side surfaces of the fire, and formed from a substantially planar piece of metal that is folded to define these surfaces.. The roof and floor of the fire are provided by upper and lower sub-assemblies of the fire which are fabricated in plastic and provide a housing for electrical and moveable parts used in the operation of the fire. Once the parts are located within the sub-assembly the fire may be completed by mating the sub-assemblies with the chassis. Decorative trims are also provided which may be attached during the assembly process.

Where the words "upper", "lower", "interior", "exterior" and the like are used it will be appreciated that these are provided as descriptive of the relative locations of components to one another and that if the orientation of the fire is changed that these descriptors may also change.

The words comprises/comprising when used in this specification are to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. An electric fire fabricated from a plurality of parts, the

parts including an upper sub-assembly, a lower sub-assembly and a chassis, the sub-assemblies being previously moulded to provide a housing for electrical and moveable parts used in operation of the fire and being mountable to and supportable by the chassis, wherein the sub-assemblies and the chassis combine to define the exterior surface of the fire; the chassis defining the back and side walls, and the sub-assemblies the floor and roof of the fire.

2. The fire as claimed in claim I wherein each of the sub-assemblies are formed from a plastics material.

3. The fire as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the sub-assemblies include at least two moulded components, a first moulded component providing a housing for removably attachable electric and/or moveable parts, and the second moulded component providing a cover for the housing.

4. The fire as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first and second moulded components are interengageable with one another, an interengagement defining an inner portion of the sub-assemby within which electrical parts may be located.

5. The fire as claimed in claim 4 wherein the upper sub-assembly is dimensioned to receive a blower wheel and a heating element which are located relative to one another on the housing such that when the cover is inter-engaged with the housing a conduit is defined through which air may be blown from the blower wheel over the heating element and downwardly over the front of the fire.

6. The fire as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upper sub-assembly is additionally dimensioned to receive a hood, the hood on receipt on the sub assembly being arranged to project forwardly of the upper sub-assembly.

7. The fire as claimed in claim 6 wherein the hood is hingeably attached to the sub-assembly, the hingeable attachment enabling a pivoting of the hood up and away from the sub-assembly to reveal control buttons located on the sub-assembly.

8. The fire as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lower sub-assembly is dimensioned to receive a blower wheel, the combination of the moulded and cover parts defining an inner portion of the sub-assembly within which the blower wheel is located and further defining an air conduit through which air generated by the blower wheel may be directed upwardly into an interior portion of the fire.

9. The fire as claimed in claim 8 wherein the lower sub-assembly is further dimensioned to receive at least one bulb, the at least one bulb being located on an upper surface of the lower sub- assembly and arranged to illuminate a fuel bed that may be positioned over the at least on bulb bulb.

10. The fire as claimed in claim 9 wherein the fuel bed is fabricated from a plastics material and is securably attached to a front ash tray façade such that it may be easily removed from its normal position over the at least one bulb.

11. The fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the chassis is formed from a metal.

12. The fire as claimed in claim 11 wherein the metal is pressed and folded to define a main rear backing, two side portions, one for the left and one for the right of the fire, and two front pieces.

13. The fire as claimed in claim 12 wherein the intersection between each of the rear backing and the side portions and the side portions and the front pieces is substantially perpendicular.

14. The fire as claimed in claim 12 wherein the intersection between the side portions and the front pieces defines a rebate within which an at least partially reflective sheet is seatable.

15. The fire as claimed in claim 14 wherein the reflective sheet is maintained in its seat by mating two mating pieces which are configured to overlap with the seated reflective sheet and mate with the chassis.

16. The fire as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the chassis is further arranged to receive a flame effect screen, the flame effect screen being patterned to resemble one or more flames and being locatable on the rear backing above the lower sub-assembly.

17. The fire as claimed in claim 16 further including a ribbon arrangement, the ribbon arrangement being mountable on support brackets located above and below the flame effect screen.

18. The fire as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17 wherein the depth of the side portions define the depth within which the fire is insertable within a fireplace and typically are of the order of 50-60mm.

19. A fire substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of Figures 1 to 5.